BeansTalk News: Daily news on fashion, beauty, film, television, books -- all media -- and anything else of relevant interest. (View the current month in its news entirety by clicking the date under Archives.)

Episode #35: "The Catbird Seat" Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 20 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Aug. 22 (11:00 p.m.), 23 (9:00 p.m., 2:55 a.m.) and 25 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdate: Aug. 21 (10:00 p.m.)Bullock holds an impromptu morning meeting to determine which emergencies warrant wiring him in Sturgis, where he and Harry (Brent Sexton) are delivering campaign pitches. The first summons doesn't take long, as Hearst follows up Alma's close call with one that's decidedly more on-target. In the aftermath, Alma takes refuge at the Gem, again, while Trixie (Paula Malcomson) decides to take matters into her own hands. Langrishe has a falling out with Hearst, giving him little time to huddle with his new lineup of actors. Dismissing the likelihood of ever seeing 23 mercenaries promised by Hawkeye, Swearengen turns to Wu to deliver more reliable, if not quite weapons-tested, reinforcements from CusterCity.

Written by Bernadette McNamara; directed by Gregg Fienberg.

Episode #36: "Tell Him Something Pretty" (season finale) Debut date: SUNDAY, AUG. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m.) Other HBO playdates: Aug. 29 (midnight) and 30 (9:00 p.m., 2:45 a.m.), and Sept. 1 (10:00 p.m.) HBO2 playdate: Aug. 28 (10:00 p.m.)The camp turns out to vote, but as Bullock notes, the election may already have been decided. In light of the mood of the populace, Langrishe delays the opening of his theater, and ponders his future in Deadwood. After detouring at Nuttall's (Leon Rippy) Number 10, Hawkeye arrives at the Gem with "almost 18" men to complement Wu's contingent. Alma works out a deal for her claim; Utter Freight receives a special delivery for Hearst; and Harry gets his fire engine. Stubbs reaches out to a frustrated Tolliver (Powers Boothe), who finds himself with a folded hand as the action heats up. Through Farnum (William Sanderson), Hearst issues his conditions for departure, forcing Swearengen to finish what Burns can't.